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‘How are you?’ is a question I am getting. Let me spend some time on it. Again, I write here to remember this and my answer.

Regarding my health, I had to put off the colonoscopy until March due to a respiratory infection, which is now gone. That is the test to prove that there is nothing they missed. All the scans and other tests show that the cancer is gone. It is more of a medical formality. My physical therapy is from damage from the chemotherapy, the pandemic, and the stress of everything. The folks at Bethany have solved the pain in my legs and have me working on strength exercises to even the strength in my legs. I am getting better and will increase my exercise and start working on weight loss.

While I am deeply concerned about layoffs, debt limits, the war in Europe, and covering all the expenses for Susie and myself, I am OK. I like to list my fears and concerns in the blog because they are on my mind, and I want to record my thoughts and feelings. I don’t wish to draw conclusions, and I am sorry if I am whining a bit.

Regarding finances, I have done everything I can to secure enough funds without again taking on enormous tax consequences (like 2022) by selling assets. I am borrowing against my 401K, and should I need suddenly to pay it back, it would just mean selling stock (and taking that tax consequence). Thus, I have hired a CPA and am making adjustments to be more tax efficient this year. My CPA agrees with my plan, and I hope to get something back for last year’s blockbuster expense year. Selling of assets and withdrawals are put off until needed, likely in 2025 (if I retire).

Susie is safe and well cared for at the hummingbird house, Michelle Nixon and her staff make Susie feel loved, and she likes it there. Jennifer, the live-in nurse aide, has a friendly relationship with Susie. Bringing Susie her rocking chair a few weeks ago really made her happy. She loves to watch a show with me sitting next to her in her rocking chair as she nods off safely and wakes to sing some more Disney music. I can only be there for twenty and sometimes a few minutes longer on work days. I try to spend three hours on Saturday, and depending on how Susie is feeling, I may stay longer on Sundays (if she is worn out, which happens some days, I will leave as Susie is headed to sleep for the afternoon).

Susie is still on anti-stroke drugs and some other helpful items. Susie seems to be getting more sleepy as the months go by, which hurts a bit to witness, but that is part of the process. There is still a chance that Susie will rally, she has many times, but she and I are happy for every day we get together.

Like a man on a boat in a river and no oars, I must accept that I cannot control the boat and must endure the good and the bad on this unplanned trip. It is a journey I would not have agreed to take but must take. My boat is not coming near the shore for some time; there is no getting off.

‘What can I do to help?’ is also something I hear often.

Just be there. I know you are there. The true challenge to this journey is to never plan more than a few days and live with uncertainty. I will ask for help as I need it. I enjoy the board games I play with friends, I play Dungeons and Dragons, and I work with my hands. I build models and paint figures. I learn how to improve my craft and share my learnings sometimes. It is a privilege to use such good products to produce beautiful work–I could never, when I was small, believe I could paint a figure and look actually like Gandalf from a movie. I am also sliding back into writing. I was published in 2600 next issue, and my AI programming and electronics are all starting back as my ability to work for hours and hours is returning (anemia sucks, and I had that for a year from cancer). I know you are there, and you can keep asking. I keep busy, and there are some much exciting things to do.

Thank you all for the love you have given Susie and me and the help you have offered and given. It matters, and I thank you. Excellent!

And now, back to the blog, a bit short during work days. I do not detail my work for Nike for all the obvious reasons (i.e., my work is owned by Nike, and most folks would find it arcane at best–boring at worst).

The morning started again with me waking a few times and finally being awoken by my alarm from a deep sleep. I moved to the kitchen in my robe and my slippers that my sister got me for the cold sensitivity from the chemotherapy (I have a small hole worn in the bottom). The house is 66F (19C), as I have the heat set low in the evening and on days when I am not working from home (a programmable thermostat but not a smart one). I start the water heating and organize a breakfast of a banana and yogurt.

I lay down in the living room with Alexa playing some motivating Rock and Roll. I then do the whole set of stretches and exercises. This includes sliding my feet with a rubber strap tied around my ankles to provide resistance (so many jokes), holding on to the sink, and doing squats (more jokes). On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I do the complete set.

Next, I pour the hot water over the coffee grounds in the glass and metal French Press to make coffee. Liberal coffee is all I drink at home.

I am delighted that Fidelity has released my tax records (I received an email), and I print them and add them to the envelope of tax information for the CPA. W-2 has arrived. Yearend statements arrived for Susie’s IRA (Pax Fund). I update Quicken with all the transactions and update any that are not automatically assigned categories. At month end, I manually revise the 401K balance to avoid any wishes to time the market (an unwise plan with retirement.

After reading emails (both Nike and mine), reviewing updates on Slack channels, and catching up on the news (more mass shootings), I shower and dress. I am out the door by 7:35 and just early enough to avoid the school buses. I arrive before 8 and start my Zoom meetings and spend ninety minutes on a stand-up (we use the Agile software development process using a ‘Train’ and includes the ceremony of a stand-up) and various update and status meetings.

I am also helping to design some performant software processes. I spent much of the day discussing the details. Many are the same items I worked on before at Nike in SAP software. I also help with a few familiar crises of the moment. I closed the day applying vendor fixes (SAP notes to those who speak SAP) after my previous patches failed, and the software is now dumping (not very nice).

In the middle of the day (sort of going backward), I headed to Susie. I was late and decided first to have lunch. I saw Chipotle on the way, I have not tried that since they had been called out for poisoning customers, and I decided to try them. I had the steak rice bowl, chips, a coke, and guacamole on the side. Itprettyquite good, better than an unnamed Mexican place nearby, and costs $19. Interesting. I think I like the $22 at Red Robin burger better–and it seems a better deal, but it was an excellent meal, and I will return now to Chipotle.

Susie was delighted when I finally arrived, nearing 2PM. Susie had a package. Susie had just finished lunch and was still in her wheelchair, so we headed to the social activity. Jennifer was happy with Susie’s eating today–I think Susie had more breakfast than I did!

Susie’s sister sent Susie a new blanket. Barb thought Susie could use another colorful, warm blanket. Susie was thrilled with the color and another blanket. We called Susie’s mother, Leta, on the iPhone. Leta and Susie chat for a while. Next, I called Barb, and Susie showed her the blanket and thanked her. Barb was making dinner of chicken chili with pumpkin and curry spices. I manage to spend 30 minutes with Susie.

I got an item from work at Susie’s that I could handle when I got back. Susie let me leave with a kiss after I promised to return on Thursday. Traffic was light, and I noticed that the police were not out with radar guns in the winter. It was not raining, but I guess Beaveton’s Finest likes warm weather.

I left work after 6PM, and the traffic was not light, but folks followed more normal traffic processes. I arrived at the Volvo Cave without incident. I got out the bourbon chicken and cheezy grits leftovers and reheated it on a plate in the microwave. It was great, and the grits were good (even reheated) and extra creamy–excellent. I watched five Vox Machina episodes, liking the show even more. It is animated series that is profane and based on Dungeons and Dragons, and it does remind me of some gaming sessions I have played.

Finally, a bit later than I should have, I started on the blog and decided to cover a few extra items at the beginning.

Thanks for reading this extra-long version.

The morning started at 6:00, with the alarm waking me. I had woken every hour since 2ish, but I did manage to be deeply asleep when the alarm startled me out of bed. Not very nice.

I found the kitchen–it was where I had left it. I started the coffee and then identified the new printout of my exercises and stretches from PT in Bethany, limiting myself to those specified daily. I did not want to cause any pain or stiffness. So I completed those, made coffee, and had the last muffin with a banana. The coffee, liberal, is the Equal Exchange brand.

The next moments were spent reading emails (work and personal), reading Slack messages, and catching up with the news. More murders. So many mass shootings I can’t keep up. I have Susie’s guns, and none are loaded. Actually, I don’t know how to load the flintlock. The ammo for the 1898 design rifle is nowhere near the gun. So while I am moderate towards control, I ensure I am not part of the problem.

I boarded Air Volvo after dressing. I then headed to Humminbird house, and then, realizing what I had done, I turned on 185, now headed to work at the office building called Clubhouse. I had instinctively headed to see Susie.

I arrived at work in time for the status meetings at 8:00, despite the detour, and did ninety minutes of meetings. I was also still working on some leftover crises of the moment from yesterday. I managed to head out at 11ish to see Susie. I was time boxed at 1PM. I also had some chores, which made everything very busy. I reached Susie’s place, the hummingbird house, in Tigard without incident.

I forgot to take a picture today. Susie was cute in her penguin sweater and sitting in her recliner in the shared living room. Jennifer, the live-in nursing aide, said Susie had eaten her breakfast but had refused dinner last night. Jenniffer wants Susie to eat dinner as Susie needs the food. Susie promised to eat dinner tonight.

We called Susie’s mother, Leta, on my iPhone using FaceTime. Leta and Susie chatted for a while, but Susie started to fall asleep. This is a new thing, and I try to accept that Susie has trouble staying focused and awake for more than a short time. She remains awake. However, she stays awake if she is engaged, like singing the songs in Sleeping Beauty from Disney.

I stayed for thirty minutes, the most I could while working, and headed out. I had some chores to do that got done, and I found a Western Burger at Carl Jrs. for lunch, a guilty pleasure.

I was back to work and had hours of meetings and more crisis management. I also discussed options for a new issue at the shoe company (sorry, no details can be in the blog) and then had a 5ish call for another set of issues and solution discussions.

We had an all-project meeting, and two HR folks talked about their experiences at Nike and gave career advice. Their focus was that you are responsible for your career at Nike and that it is essential to expand your friends and supporters at the shoe company, expect change, and get feedback from your allies. Folks ask me how to be successful, I am still going after 26 years, and I tell, primarily young folks (they ask), to find allies, strong allies. That is the secret–you need to cheer for folks, and they will cheer for you.

Air Volvo left at 6PM, and I arrived at the Volvo Cave after 6:20, with me experiencing light traffic without the usual creative and extra-legal driving often seen on our streets in the greater Beaverton-Area. At home, I decided to heat up the jambalaya (no seafood) I made a few nights ago. I watched the Dungeons and Dragon based animation series VoX Machina on Prime. I like it more on the second viewing. The food was good a second time.

I then headed to Wildwood to write the blog and enjoy brewed products. A friend from Nike was at Wildwood and was happy to see me. We worked at Nike together for years until he retired. He has had some recent health issues, and we were thrilled to see each other. Still going!

I paid $3 for a bowl of cheese crackers and started writing the blog.

Thank you for reading!

Going backward, I just finished the dishes and realized I had forgotten the laundry. I will have to rewash my dress shirt as it is a wrinkled mess. The permanent press works if you can get the garment out of the dryer while it is still warm. A rewash will do that.

I had a few servings of dinner. I broiled bourbon chicken that had marinated for five hours, my oven was hotter than I expected, and the chicken had some blackened bits. Still good and certainly cooked. I stirred up cheezy grits (Alton Brown’s recipe on the Food Network website) on the stovetop at the same time. All this was practice for the church; I am cooking for Mardi Gras in February. So earlier at noonish, I put together the marinade and two pounds of split uncooked chicken breasts in a bag (the first bag leaked!)–the chicken needs to marinate for four to six hours- not longer. You dump the marinade and broil the chicken. Then, I slice it up and throw it in a pan to rest. Two reasons, the chicken disappears slower when cut up, and you can check that it is cooked.

Dinner was great tonight. The house does smell like burned bourbon, but it was fun, and I managed not to burn myself or undercook anything. Excellent!

I sat and watched Nova’s series on the geology of North America from 2015 while I ate–it is excellent. Science! I watched the first two episodes (there are three). I watched it when it was new and forgot about it. Recommended.

Going further back, I had a crisis of the moment that I was dealing with for most of the day. I managed, I hope, to settle it at 5:15. I was home from Physical Therapy (PT) in Bethany, and that did not finish until after 4:30. My PT folks decided to have every other week meetings and move to strength building now that they think the back issues are resolving. My right leg is weak, and this has unbalanced me. I also paid the bill, after insurance, of just under $300. We are in a new year, and I have not met my out-of-pocket maximum–I am, as you can see, working on finding that maximum again. I requested a paper invoice for next year’s taxes (I have to have paper for the taxman). I plan to write all this off (minus 10% of my income per IRS rules). The PT folks were happy to see I know my stretches and excises (which we did again there), and two stretches/exercises were added (strength building). I was there at 3:45 for my appointment.

Before this, I was at the house for a short time. My package came, finally. I had time to work on a few items at work before heading to PT. Soon I was on my way to PT, and the Air Volvo flight involved multiple chances for defensive flying. A car tried to change lanes into Air Volvo, and another pulled out without looking. I managed to go slow enough in the parking lot to avoid an unplanned connection. Traffic was slow, with me running about 5 miles under the speed limit in the left lane.

Before this, I visited Susie, having given up waiting for a delivery (mentioned above) from the Czech Republic, more ship model parts from HIS Models. FedEx missed their delivery time, and I needed to see Susie in the early afternoon to make my PT appointment. Air Volvo got me there without issue. The weather is clear today, with some blue appearing in the skies and the sun appearing here and there. It is still cold for us in the low 40Fs (4.4C).

Later, the mail contained two ship model kits from China. I was going to use the two harvest parts for the spelljamers, but upon receiving the kits, these were too small for my use. However, I may build them for fun as they are 1:50 scale which fits Dungeons and Dragons. They don’t come with blocks for the rigging which disappointed me (I do have some spare), but they look like fun kits. More to follow.

Arriving safe, Susie was watching M.A.S.H. on the large TV resting in her recliner in the living room, a shared space. Jenifer, the live-in nurse aide, was cleaning, and everything looked normal. Jennifer reported that Susie had been well and eaten well. No coughing or choking. Susie was delighted to see me. We called Leta, Susie’s mother, with Susie still in the recliner and M.A.S.H. as loud and distracting. We did manage to chat with Leta and had a pleasant chat. Soon, to Susie’s disappointment, I had to leave as it was a work day. Susie promised me she would be fine and kissed me goodbye.

Previously, I stopped by Safeway. On Sunday, they had no bananas, eggs, or cut flowers. So I got some bananas and flowers for Susie; Safeway apparently restocked this Monday. Susie loved the brocade.

Before this, I worked from home (WFO) and waited for my package from HIS Model. It contains some hard-to-find ship parts, including an all-brass ship wheel that you assemble (it is not cast but machined). I also ordered additional expensive, laser-etched decking 1:100 scale. They also sell a grating I may find a use for. I am working on my second spelljammer. I have glued on some decking and am painting the SciFi-style ring.

I reheated the pizza from a few nights ago for lunch. Still working on crises of the moment and listening to status reports.

I started the day, as it was a WFO day, by sleeping until 7:15 and then dressing later. I managed my stretches and exercises between meetings. I had yogurt and a cornbread muffin for breakfast. I slept well.

Thanks for reading.

I started the morning with more vivid dreams about change and searching. The themes that repeat in my dreams. I woke before my alarm at 6:40AM this morning. I needed to write the blog on Sunday morning. I was too tired and a bit depressed on Saturday night, so I did not write the blog then. I do my best writing work in the morning (while I am best at figure painting and model building in the evening). So I start right out of bed to begin to write. I stop to make coffee, using the newly cleaned French press from the dishwasher, and have a banana with some cornbread muffins I made the day before.

Aside: There were no bananas at Safeway today (there was a handwritten sign that more would come on Monday), but I remembered in the pandemic that, bananas were unavailable for a while. So I was singing, with apologies to Parrot Heads, “The last banana in paradise” when Corwin and Evan turned the last banana we had at the house into a daiquiri, and I might have sung, “Yes, we have no banana today,” in Safeway today.

I wrote the blog without difficulty and finished it in time to not rush my shower and dressing for church. I put on a white L.L. Bean shirt (old-school oxford with button-down collar) and a banker’s tie with a sweater over everything. My usual most formal wear. I grabbed my Apple in case we would watch online instead.

The trip to the hummingbird house was uneventful at 9:40. Air Volvo arrived just around 10, an on-time arrival. Susie was ready, but Anassa was concerned that Susie was coughing and choking on her breakfast to the point that Anassa helped Susie eat. After that, Susie decided to stay home, and we moved to the social activity room after putting away Susie’s coat and scarf. Anassa arranged Susie in a comfortable recliner, and I set up the screen and my Apple to play the service.

We were ready, but First United Methodist Church, Beaverton, had no video for about ten minutes. Susie was already falling asleep in her comfy chair. Susie had stopped coughing but turned pale, and I was worried. Susie was profoundly sleeping. Her color soon returned to normal, and she was just sleeping. I tried to listen to the sermon, but I was distracted by Susie and tired myself.

Pastor Ken talked about how Jesus had created a conflict in folks by talking to those who were usually pariahs (Apple selected a spelling fix to ‘piranhas’ which strangely fits), tax collectors, Romans, and other folks excluded from good company. He believed this created a conflict for Jesus’ followers as they had to work through their reactions to these unwanted people and align with Jesus’ teachings. So that we have to work through these reactions; imagine Jesus coming to you and saying, “Follow me.”

Susie was well-rested by the end of the church. Having me there and her warm and safe goes a long way to make her feel better. I played some music for her and then called her mother. Leta and Susie chatted for a while. I filled in facts here and there. Susie started to get tired again, and Leta rang off. I played some old rock videos, and Susie sang along to some of them.

We opened a box from my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Martin for Susie. PJ and socks for Susie. Susie was thrilled.

Soon it was after 1PM, and Susie was hungry. Anassa moved Susie back into her wheelchair and made her lunch.

I headed out just for lunch. I drove to the nearby Red Robin, found a chair at the bar with an empty seat next to it, and had a Diet Coke and an Ensalda plater (two slit chicken breasts cooked in southwest spice and a salad with southwest ranch dressing). It was perfect.

It is a strange Red Robin. One of the door handles is missing, making you wonder, when you reach it, that they are even open. The next set of doors is out of alignment and hard to open, again making you wonder. The bar is cramped, and you can’t walk between the chairs without bumping into folks–very strange. Natalie was the bartender again today. I had her last week, and she was happy to see me and quite helpful. But at the bar, it was mostly chaos around me as kegs failed, and they seemed to be training everyone to put in orders. I just ate my lunch and read my email–I brought my Apple with me. I had to use my iPhone to supply a connection as they don’t supply WiFi. My food was excellent and hot, and everyone was happy to help me. I was fine.

I returned to the hummingbird house with Susie in her recliner in the shared living room. Susie asked to move to her room. Anassa moved Susie to her bed, and we put on Snow White, the original version from Disney+. Susie stayed awake for most of that. I nodded off somewhere before the poisoned apple scene and woke with the chase and fall of the crone/Evil Queen. It was now past 4PM, and with me falling asleep, it was time to head out. Susie was sad, “I need you,” but relented, and I was soon gone with a kiss.

I returned home; my emotions were still too close to the surface, but spending most of the day with Susie was good. I cry easily and have to stay focused on getting things done. I am happy Susie recovered from the coughing, as I was worried.

I changed out of my church clothes and headed to Safeway. There I spent an hour getting groceries. I received word that the church wants me to make the Bourbon Chicken dinner for Mardi Gras, so I picked up some of the basics to run a small test batch on Monday.

Aside: Molasses is hard to find; it is by the pancakes (not baking). There were no eggs, so I bought a container of Egg Beaters. I have 11 eggs left.

One of the checkers at Safeway, Ise, is Iraqi and has been in the USA for about a decade or more. We are always happy to see each other. He asks about Susie and my health. He is very kind to me, and we are always excited to see each other–we made it through the pandemic and still going!

I get all my loot to the house and unload without incident. I then make jambalaya (no seafood) for dinner. I added the diced tomatoes, cajun sausage, kielbasa, and some ham (defrosted Christmas ham) to make it great. I had three bowls!

I watched The Legends of Vox Machina as I wanted to rewatch it while eating. I liked it better the second time. This is animated series based on a Dungeons and Dragon campaign, and the animated version was created by a Kickstarter. It is profane, funny, and does remind me of my own games.

I start to write the blog at 8ish.

Thanks for reading.

My ad campaign, a whim after reading about this on WordPress, had 2,700 imprints (ads sent to folks on the Internet), and that resulted in ten clicks, and my $10 is all used up. So yes, that was a buck a click.

And while I ignore this, my blog has lost about ten percent of its traffic. I think folks are not at home on the holidays and reading. I have all these crazy tools available to me. By the way, the China military seems to have moved on–yes, in the middle of the pandemic, I had followers in China and Russia. I suspect they were trying to understand how we were doing during the pandemic and reading some blogs. What a strange world!

The day started with me having an easy start. I had written the blog for Friday on Friday, so there was no rush or getting up early to get writing (unlike now on Sunday morning, when I am writing this). The weather was gray with light rain that slowly got heavier in form and turned to snow/sleet. It was 36F (2.22C), and frozen rain quickly melted. There was no wind Saturday, and the warmer air at the bottom of the valley had stayed; thus, the colder higher air dropped the frozen stuff on us but then the snow/sleet melted in the warmer layer of air.

I had forgotten to run the dishwasher, and I also ran a load of laundry. I made coffee in the coffee machine but failed to turn it off, and it heated the coffee for most of the evening, oops. I decided I wanted something to go with the banana and made corn muffins from Krusteaz Honey Cornbread mix. They were good, and I had three!

I headed to Susie’s before 11 with five muffins to share. The travel in the sleet was easy, and the traffic was apparently scared away by the weather. I arrived after 11, and Evan was also there. Susie had two visitors! Susie was happy to have some of my cornbread muffins.

With the cold and the snow/sleet, Susie was not interested in going outside or heading to the mall. So Evan and I got chairs, Susie got her rocking chair, and we watched the hour-or-so-long Sleeping Beauty on Disney+. This is the 1959 version that is rather scary for kids (I remember being scared) with the 3D layering of images you don’t see in computer-generated animation (invented by Disney). It is hard to imagine that the pictures were hand drawn, painted, photographed, and placed in cells for a film. While very old-fashioned, the music fits in well–much of the animation looks fresh and impossibly perfect (you see some haziness in Snow White that is not found in this and later animated films). Susie was singing along and knew every word.

I had an overwhelming sadness that had tears in my eyes for the movie and the music. I was depressed by the gray weather and the difficulties of the past months. I am concerned with layoffs and what shenanigans in Washington will do to my retirement holdings. It is hard to always stay on the bright side, especially when you have no control. Nevertheless, I am trying to return to my zen-like positivity (yes, the writer in me was happy to get to write that sentence).

Next, I found an Elton John concert, his goodbye tour, that Disney+ has available, and we watched that for about forty-five minutes. Susie was singing along with that too. I left with a kiss as it was approaching 2PM. Susie needed lunch, and I was starting to get tired.

Next, I headed to Portland. The snow and sleet had stopped, and traffic was light in Portland. I used Highway 5 instead of 26, got off on the wrong exit, and drove through Portland to reach the Pearl District. The city is still showing signs of the wear of the last three years–I was hopeful that we would start to see the repairs and clean-up, but the city is now looking like a graffiti-ed ruin. Very sad for me.

We met at Von Eberts, and I ordered a nice beer, Ode to Joy, and wings. While the wings were OK, they were not smoked like before (slightly burned) and appeared to just be baked (the feathers still on the wings gave it away–ugh). While the baked and Korean BBQ flavor is better than you get at other places, the wings were not the best I have had. I had a second beer, one of their best IPAs, and while good, it reminded me why I never order IPAs; it had intense flavors.

Evan wanted to try Belmon Station near Laurelhurst, nowhere near the Pearl District. So air Volvo crossed Portland and the river to find the Laurelhurst gates, traveled through the up-scale neighborhood, and back through the gates on the other side. It is a nice drive, and the traffic, the most Air Volvo faced today, while it was not light, was not an issue. Unfortunately, as often happens in Oregon, one car braked in the middle of the intersection, forcing me to drive into a red light as I was already in the intersection when the driver in the other car slowed down. I hope that one does not have a camera for Portland to send me a bill for that.

Belmont Station has hundreds of beers and terrible service and facilities. Small tables with hard chairs that all but say, “drink and leave.” A food truck provides food that serves “Smashed Burgers” for $10. We found a picnic table, about 1/2 sized, in the back room.

Evan and I played the board game Vindication, two games, with us splitting the wins. The game is mostly about resource management and exploring (randomly drawing tiles to represent the island’s locations from a cloth bag with the words “Scumbag” on it). In the first game, Evan drew everything he needed and most of the exciting stuff and beat me when the end-of-game tripped when we were both “vindicated.” In the second game, quickly resetting while the sun sank, the game randomly gave me some advantage, but I also returned to the land grab that has served me well (I also had a companion that gave me a bonus for taking land). Evan drew the cursed power to steal masteries and took my only one. Since he had that cursed power to steal masteries (we played with all the dark curse cards), I skipped getting any more. I instead visited the sights and got a card from each. As before, we tripped the end-of-game early, and I was far ahead in points (like Evan was in the previous game), and the final score had me winning. We are playing two-person, and sometimes you see this back and forth with two players who know the game well.

We moved to a table that had better light. We switched to the board game Brass: Lancashire. We managed to play the first epoch, and the scores were one point different. I was cold and tired and in a dark place. I was done, Evan stayed to finish some beers, and I drove home.

Air Volvo arrived without issue, once again crossing Laurelhurst and passing in and out of the gates. I picked up a chocolate shake and fries at McDonald’s. This is my best pick-me-up, and I ate that while watching Nerd of the Rings newest Tolkien story on YouTube. I went to bed early as I was sad, cold, and tired. I felt better and was reading about early nautical steam engine design for paddlewheel ships described in an excellent book on the Beaver, including drawing with most of the details needed to build a model. Just a daydream to build it from scratch.

With early steam engineering and paddlewheel proper design ratios running through my mind (Beaver’s paddlewheels surprisingly being slightly out of specs–too low), I was soon back in bed, still early for a Saturday, and asleep before midnight.

I am feeling better on Sunday. Thanks for reading.